Rainforest on Fire: Images and Video of the Paradise Fire in Olympic National Park

Forest fires are nothing new for the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park- a fire near Forks, WA burnt 38,000 acres in 1951. Forest fires can be good, in a way, clearing out the underbrush, downing old giants, and pressing the reset button on the wilderness along rivers and valleys. Yet, there is something disconcerting about a fire burning nearly 1,000 acres in one of the most remote sections of wilderness in the contiguous United States. As the fire continues to grow, we are providing coverage and updates as best we can, with the help of the amazing people over at Inciweb. The area is closed to the public, but the following shots show the growth of the fire, as well as the crews fighting this rainforest blaze. Scroll all the way down to watch a video of a Smoke Jumper descending into the Queets Rainforest to fight the fire.

The Paradise fire on the Queets River of Olympic National Park, a few days after the fire was discovered. Image credit inciweb.gov

A surveying crew flying over the Paradise Fire of the Queets Rainforest of Olympic National Park. Image credit inciweb.gov

The Paradise fire picking up in size due to warm, humid weather. Image credit inciweb.gov

Paradise Fire, Queets River. Image via inciweb.nwcg.gov

Looking down on the Paradise Fire in the Queets Rainforest of Olympic National Park. Size during picture: 800+ acres. Image via inciweb.gov

Burnt trees, showing the height of the fire. The flames are jumping from tree tops, making fighting this fire extremely difficult. Image credit inciweb.gov

The crews fighting the fire are dealing with some extremely tough terrain. This is one of the flat areas. No ewoks have been burnt…yet. Image credit inciweb.gov

A small, but powerful image of the size and scale of the Paradise Fire in the Queets Rainforest of Olympic National Park. Image credit inciweb.gov

An Instagram picture, showing the size of trees in the Queets Rainforest, currently being burned by the Paradise Fire in Olympic National Park. Image credit PPButton